Kentucky Recognizes Family Caregivers In November

Gov. Steve Beshear has designated November as Family Caregiver Month in Kentucky in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of people around the state who provide in-home care for family members who are ill, disabled and elderly.

The Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) estimates 520,000 Kentuckians provide more than 570 million hours of unpaid care for family members per year. The value of that care is estimated at roughly $5.4 million. In addition, more than 75,000 children in Kentucky live with their grandparents.

"Family caregivers deserve our utmost recognition, respect and support as they balance jobs, raising families and other daily responsibilities," said Beshear. "They demonstrate extraordinary love, dedication, compassion and courage as they provide care for their loved ones."

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DAIL provides numerous services and supports for family caregivers, including links to services in local communities through the 15 Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living (AAA).

"We cannot say enough about the role our family caregivers play in ensuring their family members are able to stay in their own homes where they are comfortable and well cared for," said CHFS Secretary Janie Miller. "Caregivers provide an invaluable service to their communities and our state."

The National Family Caregiver Support Program serves family members caring for relatives older than 60 and grandparents and other older relatives caring for children younger than 18.

The AAAs also offer needs-based programs to caregivers in their service areas. This allows each region to focus resources on providing the programs and services caregivers need.

The Kentucky Statewide KinCare Steering Committee also helps grandparents and other relative caregivers identify unmet needs and access available services to help them better function as caregivers. The committee also acts as an advocate for relative caregivers and advises CHFS about the needs of grandparents and other relative caregivers and recommends ways to address those needs.

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